Door manufacturing machine



April 18, 1967 A. w. SALTER, JR

DOOR MANUFACTURING MACHINE- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed Feb. 1965 NW my MQ & i

INVENTOR ANDREW w 54L 2-5,?

i i v .llll'l'll' l' ATTORNEYS April 18, 1967 A. w. SALTER, JR 3,314,457

DOOR MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1965 4 Sheets-SheetZ I N VEN TOR.

ANDRE W W SALTER zejk mmm April 18, 1967 A. w. SALTER, JR

DOOR MANUFACTURING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 kg m I N VEN TOR.

KIA/DREW W. 5.41 752 BY zwzz MW APriH 13, 1957 A. w. SALTER, JR 3,314,457

DOOR MANUFACTUR I NG MACHI NE Filed Feb. 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' INVENTOR ANDEEW W 5.41 TEE rm/aways United States Patent 3,314,457 DOOR MANUFACTURING MACHINE Andrew W. Salter, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., assignor to Jiffy-Dar Company Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 431,077 19 Claims. (Cl. 144-2) The present invention pertains to door manufacturing machines, and more specifically, to a machine for assembling panels into a folding door.

Modern construction techniques have been developed to the point where standardization of a variety of construction elements is feasible. The standardization of these elements permits the elements to be constructed away from the building site and permits these elements to be mass-produced to thereby provide economy of both time and materials. Among the elements that have been standardized, are doors of a variety of sizes and configurations. A standardized closet door, which provides a convenient closure to modern wide closets, is the folding door constructed from a plurality of panels hinged to each other. Each of the panels normally consists of a relatively narrow, hollow core door that is hinged to a like panel. One of the panels includes a pair of pivots which are secured to the door frame, while the second panel includes a pivot guide that follows a track integral with the frame. The folding door may then be pivoted about the pivots while the pivot guide follows the track in the door frame to cause the respective panels to come into end-to-end contact and form a continuous closure over the door opening. The door may be opened by sliding the pivot guide along the track toward the pivots to thereby force the panels to come into side-to-side contact leaving the door opening free of obstructions. The folding door has become exceedingly popular in view of the wide openings permitted by this type of structure and in view of the modern trend to larger closets.

Prior art techniques for the manufacture and assembly of folding doors has required rather complicated manipu lative steps that are time-consuming and are not particularly productive of high quality folding doors. The door panels are generally assembled in some sort of a jig and are drilled to permit the mounting of hinges connecting the door panels. The panels are then removed from the jig and placed in a separate jig to position a drill for drilling holes in the ends of the respective panels to permit the mounting of pivot pins and pivot guide. The panels are subsequently removed from the second jig and placed in a convenient position to permit the operator to secure the pivot pins and pivot guide in the proper holes. This prior art technique has resulted in efficient production and costlier folding doors than would normally be expected from a construction element of the type suited for mass-production.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a door manufacturing machine for facilitating the assembly of folding doors.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a door manufacturing machine that automatically positions, clamps, grips, and drills door panels of a folding door.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door manufacturing machine for the assembly of folding doors that positions an assembled door so that the pivot pins and guide may conveniently be installed Without removing the folding door from the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

Briefly, in accordance with the embodiment chosen for illustration, the present invention provides a frame forming an inclined surface upon which the panels to be Patented Apr. 18, 1967 formed into a folding door are placed. A pair of gripping members are mounted on the frame and are movable toward and away from each other to permit the panels of the folding door to be gripped therebetween While the panels remain in contact with the frame. A means, responsive to the relative position of the gripping members, energizes electric motors for driving drills that are pneumatically forced through guide plates into the ends of the panels to thereby provide mounting holes for pivot pins and a pivot guide. A lifting means, in the form of pneumatic lifting pistons, subsequently permit the folding door to be lifted out of the drilling position into which it was held by the gripping members to enable the operator to place the pivot pin and guide into the holes drilled in the panels. The machine of the present invention substantially reduces production time and thereby provides lower-cost folding doors than heretofore possible using prior art machines and methods. The machine of the present invention also produces folding doors that are uniquely interchangeable so that if it becomes necessary to replace a folding door, a replacement door will exactly fit the pivot pin holes and track provided for the replaced folding door.

The present invention may more readily be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a door manufacturing machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1 showing the panels of a folding door mounted therein.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating a step in the operation of the machine of FIGURE 1..

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view, on an enlarged scale, of FIGURE 2 taken along line 4-4.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view, on an enlarged scale, of FIGURE 3 taken along line 55.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of a hinge-mounting jig useful in the description of the operation of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of FIGURE 7 taken along line 88.

Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment chosen for illustration utilizes three A-type frame members 10, 11, and 12 secured to each other by frame members 14 and 15 to thereby form an inclined plane defined by the surfaces 18, 1 9, and 20 of the frame members 10, 11, and 12 respectively. The frame members support a gripping member 25 which, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, takes the form of a length of angle iron rigidly secured to the frame members and supporting a door-contacting block 26 secured to the angle iron. The block 26 includes a surface 27 that is perpendicular to the plane formed by the frame surfaces 18, 19, and 20. The gripping member 25 also supports drill motors 35 and 36, drills 37 and 38, and pneumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices 40 and 41. A pair of guide plates 45 and 46 having holes 47 and 48 respectively therein are secured to the frame and to the gripping mem- The pneumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices and 41 are connected to a suitable supply of high-pressure air through a foot-operated pressure valve to thereby permit the operator to advance the drills 37 and 38 by depressing the pedal of the valve 60. The machine of the present invention also includes a second gripping member which is constructed similarly to the gripping member 25. The gripping member 65 includes anangle iron which supports a door-contacting block 66 having a surface 67 perpendicular to the plane of the frame and parallel to the surface 27 of the block 26. The gripping member 65, unlike the gripping member 25, is only slidably secured to the frame members 18 and 20, and 'is not fixed thereto as is the gripping member 25. The gripping member 65 is thus slidably mounted on the frame so that it may move toward and away from the gripping member 25. The movement of the gripping member 65 is facilitated by a reversible pneumatic piston cylinder arrangement including'cylinders 70 and 71 and pistons 72 and 73. The cylinders 70 and 71 are secured to theframe via a pivotal mounting block (FIGURE 6) such as that shown at 75 which is bolted to a cross brace member 76 of the frame. The pistons 72 and 73 are secured to the movable gripping member 65 through a coupling including a pivotal connection 80 secured by a metal strap 81 to a second pivotal connection 82. The pivots 80 and 82 have axes that are perpendicular to each other to thereby permit the movable gripping member 65 to intimately contact the door panel throughout the length of the door panel and without exerting greater force on one portion of the door panel than the other. The cylinders 70 and 71 are connected to a suitable source of high-pressure air through pneumatic conduits and 91 which are alternatively connected to the highpressure source through a double-acting valve 95. The double acting valve 95 is actuated by a foot pedal 96 to permit the piston to be extended or withdrawn from or into the corresponding cylinder. Thus, by operation of the pedal 96, the operator may cause the gripping member 65 to descend or ascend in accordance with the step of the operation being performed.

The movable gripping member 65 also supports electric drill motors 100 and 1111, drills 102 and 103, and pneumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices 104 and 105. The drills, electric drill motors, and penumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices carried by the movable gripping member 65 are identical to the like-named devices carried by the gripping member 25. The electric drill motors 100 and 191 are energized through the outlet 55 in a manner identical to the motors 35 and 36, and the pneumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices 104 and 105 are actuated through the operation of the foot-operated valve 60 in a manner identical to the devices 40 and 41. The electric motors 35, 36, 100, and 101 are all energized from the electrical outlet 55 which, in turn, is energized from the toggle switch 56 through the conductor 58 which is connected to a positioning switch (FIGURE 4). The positioning switch 110 includes an arm 111 which extends into the path of the movable gripping member 65. The positioning switch 110 is of the normally-closed variety so that electrical energy is always provided to the toggle switch 56 so long as the movable gripping member 65 is in its lowered position. When the movable gripping member 65 is elevated, the arm 111 of the switch 110 is contacted by the movable gripping member 65 to open the switch 110 and thus dc-energize the electrical circuit including the electric motors 35, 36, 100, and 101. Thus, when the operator, in the normal operating procedures using the machine of the present invention, lowers the movable gripping member 65 into contact with one of the panels of the folding door, the switch 110 automatically energizes each of the electric drill motors so that they may be extended into the ends of the panels to automatically provide the necessary mounting holes for pivot pins and the pivot guide. When the movable gripping member 65 is raised, the gripping member contacts the arm 111 and interrupts the electrical circuit thus deenergizing the respective electric motors and placing them in a ready state for re-energization when the movable arm is once again lowered.

The machine of the present invention also provides pneumatic clamping through the use of pneumatic clamp devices 120, 121, :122, and 123. Each of these clamps includes an adjustable abutment member (FIGURE 5 secured to a pivoted arm 131. A pneumatic cylinder 132 is connected through a h'ighpressure conduit 134 and, when pressure is applied to the cylinder 132, the piston 135 extends therefrom. The extension of the piston 135 causes the cylinder 132 to pivot about its pivoted mounting bracket 137, forcing the arm 131 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 138, thus forcing the abutment member 130 into contact with the door panel such as shown in FIGURE 4. The pneumatic clamping devices of the present invention are automatically actuated by depressing the pneumatic pressure valve 60 to admit pressure to the cylinders 70 and 71. As the pistons 72 and- 73 are drawn into their respective cylinders, the pressure of the supply lines feeding the respective cylinders increases and the increase in pressure is sensed by a bypass valve which automatically bypasses the high-pressure air from the cylinders 70 and 71 to the respective cylinders of the clamping devices. The bypass valve 165 is a commercially-available device of which many types are readily available on the market; therefore, further description is deemed unwarranted.

The movable gripping member 6 5 also includes guide plates 166 and 167, each having holes 168 and 169 and each including a door-contacting surface -170and 171 respectively.

The machine of the present invention also includes lifting means which, in the embodiment chosen for illustration, takes the form of two pneumatically-operated lifting pistons and cylinder devices and 181. These devices are secured to the gripping member 25 through mounting frames and 186 respectively. The devices 180 and 181 each include a piston 190' which extends through the contact bar 26 and, when withdrawn into the respective cylinder, remains beneath the surface 27. When high-pressure air is applied to the cylinders 180 and 181, the pistons 190 extend therefrom and engage the edge of one of the panels of the folding door to lift the folding door out of contact with the gripping members as shown in FIGURE 5. Application of pneumatic pres sure to the cylinders 180 and 181' is controlled through the utilization of a foot-operated valve 190 controlled through manipulation of the pedal 191.

The present invention may be described further 'by following a typical example of the production of a folding door. The operator, through manipulation of the pedal 96, raises the movable gripping member 65 by applying pneumatic pressure to the cylinders 70 and 71. The operator then places two panels 200 and 201 against the inclined plane formed by the surfaces 18, 19, and 20 of the machine frame. The panel 201 is placed in contact with the surface 27 While the panel 200 is placed in contact withthe surface 67. The two panels are separated by a hinge-mounting ji-g210 which includes a plurality of screw-guiding plates 211, each having holes therein and each including magnetic material so that the respective plates support a hinge 212 in contact therewith. The hinges 212 are placed on the respective jigs in registry with the holes in the jigs and are held by the magnetic attraction of'the material of the plates. The jig includes a positioning angle member 215 that is placed in abutting relationship with one end of the door panels, and also includes .a plurality of door spacing members 216 which are placed between the respective panels to both support the jig in place and separate the panels a pre-determined distance. The jig 210 forms no part of the present invention and is a commercially-available device presently available on the market. The jig 210 is placed between the panels 200 and 201 and an automatic screw machine is used to insert screws in the screw guides of the jig plates 211 to thereby secure the respective hinges 212 to the two panels.

Returning now to the operation of the machine of the present invention, the panels 200 and 201 are placed against the inclined surface formed by the frame member surfaces 18, 19, and and the jig 210 placed therebetween. The movable gripping member 65 is then lowered through appropriate manipulation of the foot pedal 96. As the movable gripping member is lowered, the surface 67 comes into contact with one edge of the panel 200, forcing the latter against the separators 216 of the jig 210 and against the lower panel 201. As the pressure against the panels caused by the motion of the pistons 72 and 73 increases, the bypass valve '65 admits high-pressure air to the cylinders of the clamping devices 120, 121, 122, and 123. The clamping devices subsequently pivot and engage the surfaces of the two panels and hold them securely against the inclined surface of the frame. The panel members are held in position by the guide plates 45, 46, 166 and 167. As the movable gripping member 65 is lowered, the arm 111 of the switch 110 becomes disengaged with the movable gripping member 65 and the electric circuit is completed to the drill motors 35, 36, 100, and 101. The motors are thus energized and the drills 37, 38, 102, and 103 begin rotation. The operator then energizes the pneumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices 40, 41, 104, and 105 by operation of the foot-operated valve 60. The respective drills are then extended while they are being driven by their corresponding motors and are advanced through the holes in the corresponding guide plates to thereby drill holes in the panels 200 and 201 to a depth predetermined by the position of stops provided within each of the pneumatic drill advancing piston and cylinder devices. The operator then releases the pedal of the foot-operated valve 60 and the drills are withdrawn from the panels. Operation of the pedal 96 in a direction opposite to that of original energization releases the pneumatic pressure on the clamping devices and raises the movable clamping member 65 by extending the pistons 72 and 7-3. As the member 65 is raised, it encounters the arm 111 of the switch 110 and causes the latter to open the electrical circuit connected to the electric drill motors. The drill motors are thus de'energized and cannot be re-energized until the member 65 is lowered.

A particularly unique feature of the present invention is the utilization of the lifting means 180 and 181. At the completion of the steps described above, the folding door now requires the addition of pivots and a pivot guide before the door is complete. Since the panels 200 and 201 have been secured to each other through the addition of hinges as described above, and since the movable gripping member 65 has been elevated out of contact with the panel 200, the panel 200 may be folded over on top of the panel 201 and the operator may energize the cylinders 180 and 181 by manipulating the pedal 191. The pressure thus supplied through the valve 190 to the cylinders 180 and 181 causes the pistons 190 to extend from their corresponding cylinders and lift the panels 200 and 201 out of contact with the surface 27 as indicated in FIGURE 5. With the folding door in this position, the holes previously drilled in the ends thereof are now exposed to permit the mounting of the pivots and pivot guides. A representative pivot 240 and a representative guide 241 are shown in place on the folding door of FIGURE 5. The lifting means enables the pivots and pivot guide to be mounted on the door without removing the door from the door manufacturing machine and without time-consuming manual manipulative steps to appropriately position the door'so that the holes are exposed and are free from interference from the corresponding guide plates 45, 46, 166, 167. The completed folding door may then be removed and the pistons retracted in their corresponding cylinders by appropriate actuation of the valve 190.

The machine of the present invention has proven to be a substantial cost-saving device that enables the manufacture of folding doors at a cost substantially less than that obtainable by use of prior art methods and machines. If desired, for the convenience of the operator, a hand operated gripping member such as that shown at 245, may be mounted on the gripping member 25 or the frame '11 to enable the operator to grip the folded door while it is being held in its elevated position by the lifting means to aid in the mounting of the pivots and pivot guide. The combination of the inclined plane formed by the frame of the machine of the present invention, the gripping members and lifting means enables a substantial production increase to be obtained from a given number of workmen or operators and also increases the interchangeability of the respective folding doors by increasing the accuracy of the placement of the pivots and pivot guide as well as insuring appropriate alignment of the panels of the door and the alignment of the panels with each other. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment and that many substitutions and modifications may be made in the described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

'1. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels, and

(c) lifting means for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting at least one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame.

2. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels, and

(c) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact With said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting means to remain in contact with said frame.

-3. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) lifting means for lifting said panels out of contact :with said gripping members while permitting at least one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame, and

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to saidinclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces.

4; In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a: pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) lifting means for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting at least one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame, and

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting, surface.

5. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and grip ping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting means to remain in contact with said frame, and

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said d'oor contacting surface.

6. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

() lifting means for lifting said-panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting at least one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame,

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces, and

(e) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole.

7. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting means to remain in contact with said frame,

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said'gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate includmg:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface, and

(e) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, eachof said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole.

- 8. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) lifting means for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members While permitting at least one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame,

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(e) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole, and

(f) means responsive to the relative position of said gripping members for rotating said drills.

9. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members While permitting the panel contacted by said lifting means to remain in contact with said frame,

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured-to said gripping members for positioning the panels of afolding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said'gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface,

(e) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the, corresponding hole,

and J (f) means responsive to the relative position of said gripping members for rotating said drills.

10. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) lifting means for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting at least one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame,

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(e) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole,

(f) means responsive to the relative position of said gripping members for rotating said drills, and

(g) pneumatic means for axially moving said drills a selected distance through said guide plates to drill holes in said panels to a predetermined depth.

11. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting panels of a folding door,

(b) a pair of gripping members having surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, said gripping members being movable toward and away from each other for contacting and gripping edges of said folding door panels,

(c) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting means to remain in contact with said frame,

(d) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of'a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface,

(e) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole,

(f) means responsive to the relative position of said gripping members for rotating said drills, and

(g) pneumatic means for axially moving said drills a selected distance through said guide plates to drill holes in said panels to a predetermined depth.

12 y In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, and

(c) lifting means "for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting at least 1% one of said panels to remain in contact with said frame.

13. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said 'frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other, and

(c) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting means to remain in contact with said frame.

14. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame 'forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other,

(0) pneumatic extension means secured to said frame and to said second gripping member for moving said second gripping member toward and away from said first gripping member, and

(d) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting member to remain in contact with said frame.

15. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

- combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other,

(0) pneumatic extension means secured to said frame and to said second gripping member for moving said second gripping member toward and away from said first gripping member,

(d) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one .of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting member to remain in contact with said frame, and

(e) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate includ ing:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface.

16. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other,

(c) pneumatic extension means secured to said frame and to said second gripping member for moving said second gripping member toward and away from said first gripping member,

(d) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting member to remain in contact with said frame,

(e) a plurality .of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels-of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate ineluding:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface,

(f) a plurality .of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole.

17. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other,

(e) pneumatic extension means secured to said frame and to said second gripping member for moving said second gripping member toward and away from said first gripping member,

(d) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting member to remain in contact With said frame,

(e) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface,

(f) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a holein a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole, and

(g) means responsive to the relative position of said gripping members for rotating said drills.

18. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising: i

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel to each other,

(e) pneumatic extension means secured to said frame and to said second gripping member for moving said second gripping member toward and away from said first gripping member,

(d) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting member to remain in contact with said frame,

(e) a plurality of guide plates secured to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) adoor panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping memsurfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface,

(f) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a different one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole, and

(g) pneumatic meansfor axially moving said drills a selected distance through said guide plates to drill holes in said panels to a predetermined depth.

19. In a machine for manufacturing folding doors, the

combination comprising:

(a) a frame forming an inclined plane for supporting a pair of panels of a folding door,

(b) a first gripping member secured to said frame; a second gripping member slidably mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from said first gripping member; said gripping members having opposing surfaces perpendicular to said inclined plane and parallel -to each other,

(e) pneumatic extension means secured to said frame and to said second gripping member for moving said second gripping member toward and away from said first gripping member,

((1) pneumatic lifting means for contacting one of said panels and for lifting said panels out of contact with, said gripping members while permitting the panel contacted by said lifting member to remain in contact with said frame,

(e) a plurality of guide plates secured, to said gripping members for positioning the panels of a folding door in contact with said frame, each guide plate including:

(1) a door panel contacting surface perpendicular to said inclined plane and to said gripping member surfaces,

(2) means defining a hole extending through said guide plate perpendicular to said door contacting surface,

(f) a plurality of drills, each positioned opposite a hole in a difierent one of said guide plates, each of said drills movable axially through the corresponding hole,

(g) means responsive to the relative position of said gripping members for rotating said drills, and

(h) pneumatic means for axially moving said drills a selected distance through said guide plates to drill holes in said panels to a predetermined depth.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1959 France.

WILLIAM w. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner. 

19. IN A MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FOLDING DOORS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME FORMING AN INCLINED PLANE FOR SUPPORTING A PAIR OF PANELS FOR A FOLDING DOOR, (B) A FIRST GRIPPING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID FRAME; A SECOND GRIPPING MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST GRIPPING MEMBER; SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSING SURFACES PERPENDICULAR TO SAID INCLINED PLANE AND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, (C) PNEUMATIC EXTENSION MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME AND TO SAID SECOND GRIPPING MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID SECOND GRIPPING MEMBER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST GRIPPING MEMBER, (D) PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS FOR CONTACTING ONE OF SAID PANELS AND FOR LIFTING SAID PANELS OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS WHILE PERMITTING THE PANEL CONTACTED BY SAID LIFTING MEMBER TO REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH SAID FRAME, (E) A PLURALITY OF GUIDE PLATES SECURED TO SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS FOR POSITIONING THE PANELS OF A FOLDING DOOR IN CONTACT WITH SAID FRAME, EACH GUIDE PLATE INCLUDING: (1) A DOOR PANEL CONTACTING SURFACE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID INCLINED PLANE AND TO SAID GRIPPING MEMBER SURFACES, (2) MEANS DEFINING A HOLE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID GUIDE PLATE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID DOOR CONTACTING SURFACE, (F) A PLURALITY OF DRILLS, EACH POSITIONED OPPOSITE A HOLE IN A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID GUIDE PLATES, EACH OF SAID DRILLS MOVABLE AXIALLY THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING HOLE, (G) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE RELATIVE POSITION OF SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS FOR ROTATING SAID DRILLS, AND (H) PNEUMATIC MEANS FOR AXIALLY MOVING SAID DRILLS A SELECTED DISTANCE THROUGH SAID GUIDE PLATES TO DRILL HOLES IN SAID PANELS TO A PREDETERMINED DEPTH. 